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December 25, 2011

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Orchestra to play 'awe-inspiring' folk songs

THE beautiful and romantic melodies of Russian folk songs have impressed many generations of Chinese people. Most of the songs have Chinese translations and some Chinese people have even grown up hearing and performing these songs.

The Russian National Orchestra will perform more than 20 Russian folk songs in Shanghai tomorrow.

The list of songs includes "Three-Horse Carriage," "Raspberry Blossoming," "The Road" and "Moscow Nights."

But the orchestra also has a surprise planned for the audience. It will play famous Chinese scores like "Jasmine Flowers" and "The Red Detachment of Women."

According to orchestra officials, the highlight of the concert will be the 50 or so antique Russian musical instruments played and displayed for the audience.

This includes the balalaika, a guitar-like instrument with two, three or four strings. It has a history of more than 200 years.

Balalaikas were once only played for Russia's royal families and aristocracy.

Over the past decades, the orchestra, described by the Miami Herald as "a living symbol of the best in Russian art" and by International Piano as "the most important cultural story of our time," has received wide acclaim from both spectators and international critics.

Its performance was said to be "breathtakingly beautiful" by Classic CD magazine. Gramophone magazine described one concert as "an awe-inspiring experience" and asked: "Should human beings be able to play like this?"

The orchestra has also received numerous awards and honors including the French Diapason d'Or, the German Echo Klassik Award and a Grammy.



Date: Tomorrow, 7:30pm

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong

Tickets: 180-1,280 yuan

Tel: 962-388, 6854-1234




 

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